Why Have There Been No Great Women Comics Artists? (Part 3)

The discussion raised lately by this column, shakeups in corporate comics and general ongoing frustrations in the world of lady drawers has hinged largely on why there have been no great female comics characters, and the ridiculous outfits they are often given to wear. But as in any form of media, comics are also a job for those select few with the talent, perseverance and luck to make it work. But those select few are a very homogenous group, and some are starting to ask why.

This last installment of Anne Elizabeth Moore and Christa Donner's collaborative "Ladydrawers" series, "Why Have There Been No Great Women Comics Artists?" answers the question with a mix of whimsy, theory and actual overheard quotes. (You'll have to guess which is which!) Set your bookmarks for our next installment now: we'll be dishing some stats on exactly how many women are working in comics - and where.

Anne Elizabeth Moore is a cultural critic and author of several award-winning, best-selling nonfiction books including Unmarketable (The New Press) and Cambodian Grrrl (Cantankerous Titles). She is a Fulbright scholar and was a USC Annenberg/Getty Arts Journalism Fellow. Her work has appeared in The Baffler, Al Jazeera, Salon, The Onion, Talking Points Memo, Wilson Quarterly, Tin House, and in international art exhibitions, including the Whitney Biennial and solo shows at the MCA Chicago. She has appeared on CNN, NPR, Voice of America, and in The New York Times, among others, and currently lives in Chicago. Threadbare: Clothes, Sex, and Trafficking comes out in May.

Christa Donner is a visual artist who uses a variety of media to explore human bodily experience as well as occasionally why there might seem to be no great women comics artists. Her work is exhibited internationally and includes comics projects for Bust, Tin House, the Chicago Reader, and Grace Comics Showcase. More of Christa’s work can be found at www.christadonner.com

Why Have There Been No Great Women Comics Artists? (Part 3)

The discussion raised lately by this column, shakeups in corporate comics and general ongoing frustrations in the world of lady drawers has hinged largely on why there have been no great female comics characters, and the ridiculous outfits they are often given to wear. But as in any form of media, comics are also a job for those select few with the talent, perseverance and luck to make it work. But those select few are a very homogenous group, and some are starting to ask why.

This last installment of Anne Elizabeth Moore and Christa Donner's collaborative "Ladydrawers" series, "Why Have There Been No Great Women Comics Artists?" answers the question with a mix of whimsy, theory and actual overheard quotes. (You'll have to guess which is which!) Set your bookmarks for our next installment now: we'll be dishing some stats on exactly how many women are working in comics - and where.

Anne Elizabeth Moore is a cultural critic and author of several award-winning, best-selling nonfiction books including Unmarketable (The New Press) and Cambodian Grrrl (Cantankerous Titles). She is a Fulbright scholar and was a USC Annenberg/Getty Arts Journalism Fellow. Her work has appeared in The Baffler, Al Jazeera, Salon, The Onion, Talking Points Memo, Wilson Quarterly, Tin House, and in international art exhibitions, including the Whitney Biennial and solo shows at the MCA Chicago. She has appeared on CNN, NPR, Voice of America, and in The New York Times, among others, and currently lives in Chicago. Threadbare: Clothes, Sex, and Trafficking comes out in May.

Christa Donner is a visual artist who uses a variety of media to explore human bodily experience as well as occasionally why there might seem to be no great women comics artists. Her work is exhibited internationally and includes comics projects for Bust, Tin House, the Chicago Reader, and Grace Comics Showcase. More of Christa’s work can be found at www.christadonner.com